Bishop Nguyen

Bishop Pierre Nguyen Van De was born on Jan. 15, 1946, in Quang Tri province. After he became a Salesian in 1965, he studied philosophy in Hong Kong until 1968 and studied theology at the Pius X Pontifical Institute in Da Lat from 1970-1974. He was ordained a priest on Dec. 17, 1973.

He taught at a novitiate and served as a parish priest, Salesian Don Bosco provincial superior and rector of the Salesian theological institute from 1976-2000. Then he taught theology and social teaching of the Catholic Church and served as a spiritual director at Saint Joseph Major Seminary in Ha Noi till 2005. He was named auxiliary bishop of the northern diocese of Bui Chu by Pope Benedict XVI on Nov. 29, 2005. His episcopal ordination took place on Jan. 18, 2006 at Bui Chu Cathedral.

He was appointed as bishop of the neighboring Diocese of Thai Binh on July 25, 2009. He succeeded Bishop Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Sang who retired.

Bishop De now serves as head of the Episcopal Commission for Religious of the Vietnam Bishops' Conference. He speaks - except his native language - English, French and Latin.